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Now, Pak opposition party invites Jaswant to launch his book on Jinnah

August 27, 2009 15:45 IST

The Pakistan Muslim League-Q, one of the country's main opposition parties, has invited former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh to Pakistan to launch his controversial new book on the country's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, saying it would be a step towards promoting intellectual and people-to-people understanding.

PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain Sayed telephoned Singh and congratulated him on his book, which he described as a "landmark and historical work which sets the record straight".

"I spoke to Singh on Wednesday and told him his book reversed the wrongs of history and reflected his commitment to truth and his moral courage. We invited him to launch his book in Islamabad, as it would be a step towards promoting intellectual and people-to-people understanding," said Sayed.

Sayed said Singh had told him that he would visit Pakistan after the holy month of Ramzan for the launch of his book Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence.

PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has also written a letter to Singh to express his appreciation for his book.

Meanwhile, Singh has reportedly been denied security clearance by Indian authorities for his scheduled visit to Pakistan this week, said one of the Pakistani hosts who was to receive Singh.

Muhammad Yusuf, who was coordinating with Singh on behalf of a leading bookstore, said he had spoken to the former external affairs minister, who told him that he would be unable to come to Pakistan this week.

"He was denied security clearance by the Indian government. He will visit Pakistan at a later date," Yusuf said, adding that Singh had even been issued a visa by Pakistan for the proposed visit.

Others involved in organising Singh's visit too claimed that the Indian government had blocked his trip by refusing to issue a "no-objection certificate".